I wasn't intending to make any Halloweeny art this year, so this is just kind of a nice coincidence.

*Comedic44 and I were discussing the prospects of a Magda Daubenmire (an ice cube's chance in hell), though it got us both wanting to see an evil Magda. --

I've already outlined exactly what Magda's issues are elsewhere. In brief, Magda is meek and mild and kind and a lifetime of being taken advantage for this in thousands of tiny and not-so-tiny ways has coalesced into a HIGHLY suppressed part of her that is nothing but acrimonious malignity and misanthropic vengefulness...

To her credit, Magda is acutely aware of this kink in her psyche and wishes it gone. It makes her sick, makes her doubt that she is or is capable of ever being a good person, makes her nervous as she's freely allowed to train and grow powerful in the field of psychomancy, unintentionally duping screeners who never find her less than responsible and harmless.

She's very intelligent, whether she'd ever admit it, even to herself. And she cannot let go nor quash this blackest side of her own mind, this part of her that would snap the souls from the still gasping bodies of every person who ever belittled, mocked, or abused her, because it whispers to her a truth she finds difficult to deny...

They probably deserve it.

Befriending Morgan has been a much-needed release. He was the first and only person to see straight through to this rotten part of her, and remains the only person she can discuss/rant/lament over it with, and without inhibition or shame at that.

Morgan is kind of her opposite in this respect, his dirty secret is that he's naturally overflowing with love and good feels, and his own struggle is against his false, adopted shell of wickedness. Morgan became a murderer- twistedly- entirely out of love: for the death of his lover in the war and to save anyone further from the same fate. It was never personal. Morgan loves people. The same does not come easy to Miss Alder. Magda, were something to push her over the edge, would fall so much farther, and it would be very, very personal.

I know I've said this before, but I just love the contrast between Morgan and Magda. And dang, evil Magda sounds like a terrible beast. (Not that I can't relate to her.) Maybe we're actually better off with Morgan...

Your characters are so amazing. That insight about how for someone to murder out of love, they must at least have had the capacity to love -- but Magda is something else entirely, and her inner struggle sounds fascinating.

I simply love hearing the stories and thoughts of Magda and Morgan! It shows so much character depth and, in the midst of reading your descriptions, I'll forget that they're fictional characters. I think I've grown so attached to Morgan because of his secret mushy center, and the same for Magda in that I relate to her so well (which probably isn't the best thing to say considering I share quite a few pros and cons of her personality). They create an awesome duo that I would pay to read a book about or watch a movie. Keep up the great work, Miss Tox, and I look forward to seeing more!

Oooh, everything about this is lovely. Ever since you did Theo for me I've had this need to see more of your work in limited palettes. It works so well. The ragged edges of the cloth here are particularly well done.

Been using a lot of Photoshop's brush #32 lately. Feel like it's rough enough to be interesting but contained enough to be controllable. I don't really have a favorite brush, much of the time I just use the standard round. (: You got a favorite brush?

Haha! Yep... Adobe could use some serious competition, the bastards. Good programs, but... hundreds or dollars for a copy? Fortunately, I suppose, it seems ridiculously easy to get a pirated copy, most people I know certainly didn't buy theirs.

Well, my dad is awesome and gifted me a copy. While I was a student too, so there was a discount of a hundred bucks or two involved.

It's always that people know people who have pirated copies who are willing to pass them on. Honestly, I have no idea how that works. Someone must hack out the stuff that normally requires registration with Adobe. Technical stuff. I've no idea, and I've no advice for finding pirated software online except that I'd personally be veeery cautious about going there. I know loads of artists that use SAI and GIMP, which are free digital painting programs and you've probably heard of them. I've not used them myself, but they apparently work well enough! You might give them a try.

Aye! Something really nice about graphite. Probably it's just what we're used to, but it feels really good to do some scribblin after some time away!